Railroad-signal



(No Model.)

L. R. MUNSGN.

RAILROAD SIGNAL.

Patented Jan.16,1883.

(HWS

WIT/vsssss. Qi@ www No PETSRS. Fhniuxhahmplwr. washington. D. C.

ilNrraD STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS R. WIUNSON, OF BRAINERD, MINNESOTA.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,604, dated January 16, 1883.

Application filed .Tune 13, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I LoUIs READE MUNsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brainerd, in the county of Grow Wing and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Railroad-Signals,

oivl which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signals used upon railroads to denote to conductors'or engineers of trains the fact whether they are to wait for orders, and for other uses; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter shown and as specifically claimed.

In the drawings, Figure lis a sectional side elevation, showing the colored glass and colored target exposed. Fig. 2 is .t similar view, showing the white or satety glass and white or safety target exposed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe colored-glass-snpportin g frame detached. Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation ot' Fig. 1. 'Fig 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line x a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a crosssectional view on the line yy ot' Fig. 2.

This invention relates to that class of' signals used upon railroads which expose a lamp or lantern with coloredglass globes or plates, through which the light shines for use in the night-time, and colored targets for use in the day-time; and it consists in devices hereinafter set forth and claimed.

A casing or box, A, is set in any suitable position alongside the track, and high enough to be seen from a long distance, both up and down the road. This casing will be ordinarily about eight inches square on the inside, although the size may be varied to suit circumstances. n the upper part of this casing, a short distance down from the top, are four lenses or bulls-eyes,7 B B2 B3 B4, one set through the center of each face ot' the casing A, as shown.. Y

O is a square frame, fitting the inside of the casing, and made considerably longer than the width of the lenses, and provided at the bottom with a long rod, D, working in guides a a2, the rod being connected to the frame C by a cross-bar, b.

c is acord, connected at one end to the top ot the rod D, and passing upward over a pulley, d, and outward through the side of the (No model.)

| casing to any desired distance, so that by pulling upon the cord the bar D and frame C will be raised, and then fall ot' their own weight when released.

Upon the sides of the upper part of thc frame C are plates E, having round holes cut through them conforming to the lenses B B2 133134, behind which round holes plates e, ot' colored glass, are set, as shown. These four openings, covered by the glass, will be in such a position 'that when the frame C and bar D are lowered down each of the lenses will have a colored-glass plate directly in front ot' it, as shown in Figs. l and 4. The space below the plates E will be left unobf structed, so that when the frame() and barD are raised upward, as shown in Fig. 2, nothing is left between the lenses and the interior of the casing. Across the interior ofthe casing A, a short distance below the lenses, a shelf', F, is secured'to support a lamp, G, with its flame h opposite to the center and at the focal point ot' the four lenses, to furnish the necessary light for the signals at night. By these arrangements it will thus be seen that when the frame O is lowered, as shown in Figs. l and 4, the colored glass e will be interposed between the lenses and the light h; hence the light from the outside will appear the same color as the glass e. The color ofthis glassis usually green, although any other color may be used, it' required. Then by pulling upon the cord c the frame O will be raised, and remove the colored glasses above the lenses and permit the light h to shine directly through the lenses, and thus show a white light on the outside.

H H2 are two targets-one, H', painted white, and the other painted to correspond with the color of the glasses e, usually green,as before described. The target H is pivoted at i to the casing A, and connected by 'a rod or lever, m', to the upper part ofthe bar D at n, and the target H2 pivoted at i2 to the casing A, and also connected by a lever, m2, to the bar D by the same pivot, n. The two pivots it'2, it will be observed, are upon opposite sides of the 'casing A, and upon opposite sides of the bar D, the pivot r2 of the lever m2 thus having the pivot i2 ot' its target between it and the outer end of the target, while the pivot r ot' the lever m is between the pivot i and lower or outer end ot' the target H', so that when the bar D is raised the lever m' will raise the target H through the lever m', and at the same time depress the target lil2 and cause it to fold back into the casing A, as shown in Fig. 2, and then when the frame C and bar D are lowered again the target H2 `will be raised and the target H lowered down into the casing, as shown in Fig. 1. By thisnleans the same action that changes the color ofthe light at night changes the color of the target exposed in the day-time, and also prevents more than one color of light or target heilig exposed at the same time.

The targets and colored glasses will be operated together both day and night; but the glasses will only show at night,and the. targets will only show in the daytime. Thus a signal equally efficient for both day and night is produced.

The great advantage 'of the four lenses is that the color of the light can be seen from all sides, so that the operator, who is usually at one side of the signal, can know whether or not the right color is in viewA without the necessity of' going in front ofthe easing.

The operator is usually some distance away from the signal; hence the ability to know that the right color is showing without the ne-` eessity of going to the signal is important.

This device is intended to be used in signaling trains in regard to orders at telegraphstations, the green light or green target signifying that the train is to wait for orders; hence as a measure of precaution the apparatus is so arranged that the green light or green target enough to overcome the target H2 and raise it up when they fall downward.

Another set of differentcolored glass plates may he set in the frame C below the plates e far enough so that by raising the frame onehalt' its length ot` throw the white light woull show, as before described, and then by raising it another one-half its throw the other colored glass would show. By this means vthe signal could he utilized as a danger-signal. This ar- -raugement would of course necessitate a third target of the same color as the second set of glasses and some slight change in the manner of operating the targets.

A cap, M, upon top ot' the casing A, by being removed, enables the glasses e to be removed for repairs or cleaning, and one side of the casing A will be hinged, so that the interior may be exposed, it desired.

Vhat I claim as new is- 1. The combination of casing A, having len ses, a frame carrying colored plates to lit over said lenses, a target-,and mechanism for conneeting the colored plates and target so that the movement of' one will control the movement of the other, substantially as set forth.

2. A casing, A, having lenses B B2 B3 B, a frame, C, within said casing, adapted to be raised and lowered and provided with coloredglass plates e, a lamp, Gr, or other means of supplying light to said lenses and glass plates, in combination with targets H' H2 and means, substantially as described, for connecting said targets with said frame C, whereby the Inovements of said frame will be communicated to said targets.

3. The combination ofthe casing A, having the lenses B B2 B3 B4, fra-me C, haring the colored-glass plates e,lamp G, bar I), levers in m2, and targets H H2, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS READE MUNSON.

'VVitnesses1 W. R. WHITE,

The frame C and target H will bc heavy H. D. FoLLE'r'r. 

